Evaluating Apelin as a Potential Biomarker in Major Depressive Disorder: Its Correlation with Clinical Symptomatology.

To date, only a limited number of studies have investigated the potential effects of apelin on mood regulation and emotional behavior. Therefore, this study investigated apelin's role in major depressive disorder (MDD) by comparing the serum and plasma apelin concentrations between 30 patients with MDD and 30 healthy controls (HCs), and the correlated serum and plasma apelin levels and the severity of depressive symptoms using the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). Blood samples were collected following 12 h of fasting, and the apelin levels were measured using an ELISA kit.

Volume enlargement of the choroid plexus and brain ventricles in drug-naïve, first-episode major depressive disorder.

Background: We investigated volumetric alterations in the bilateral choroid plexus (ChP) and brain ventricles of patients during their first episode of major depressive disorder (MDD) prior to antidepressant treatment.

Methods: Seventy-one first-episode drug-naïve patients with MDD and seventy-four healthy control (HC) subjects were recruited. MRI data were obtained, and bilateral ChP and brain ventricle volumes were evaluated using segmentation, based on the adaptive multiscale and expectation maximization method.

Choosing Appropriate Nutritional Therapy for Patients With Anorexia Nervosa Exhibiting Liver Dysfunction: A Case Report.

Anorexia nervosa (AN) presents with a variety of physical complications such as hypoglycemia, electrolyte abnormalities, and dehydration associated with starvation, requiring rapid weight gain through nutritional therapy. However, despite nutritional therapy, patients are at risk of many serious medical complications, including hypoglycemia, hypophosphatemia, edema, and liver damage. Starvation has been found to cause hepatocyte injury with mild-to-severe increases in liver enzyme levels, and distinguishing between autophagy and refeeding syndrome is important for treatment strategies.

Effect modification of tumor necrosis factor-α on the kynurenine and serotonin pathways in major depressive disorder on type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is strongly associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The kynurenine and serotonin pathways, as well as chronic low-grade inflammation, are being considered potential links between them. MDD associated with T2DM is less responsive to treatment than that without T2DM; however, the underlying mechanism remains unknown.

Agoraphobia and panic attacks complicated by primary aldosteronism improved by treatment with eplerenone: a case report.

Background: Primary aldosteronism (PA) is an adrenal gland disease, that induces increased secretion of the mineralocorticoid, aldosterone, resulting in symptoms such as hypertension. This study reports a patient with agoraphobia and panic attacks, associated with PA. This patient's psychiatric symptoms improved after treatment with eplerenone, a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist.

Triple network connectivity changes in patients with major depressive disorder versus healthy controls via structural network imaging after electroconvulsive therapy treatment.

Objective: To investigate the effect of electroconvulsive treatment (ECT) on dynamic structural network connectivity in major depressive disorder (MDD), based on the triple-network model.

Methods: Twenty-one first-episode, drug-naïve patients with MDD and 21 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects were recruited. Bilateral electrical stimulation was performed thrice a week for a total of 4-5 weeks in the MDD group.

Corrigendum: Estimation of subjective quality of life in schizophrenic patients using speech features.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fresc.2023.

Effect of the personality traits of healthy Japanese workers on depressive symptoms and social adaptation, and on the achievement rate of exercise therapy to prevent major depression.

Background: This study determined the effects of personality traits on depressive symptoms and social adaptation in healthy workers, and the effects of depressive symptoms or social adaptation before and after exercise therapy, and personality traits before exercise therapy on the achievement rates of exercise therapy aimed at preventing major depression.

Methods: Two hundred fifty healthy Japanese workers were given an eight-week walking program as exercise therapy. After excluding 35 participants who had dropped or provided incomplete information, 215 were included in the analysis.

Volumetric assessment of individual thalamic nuclei in patients with drug-naïve, first-episode major depressive disorder.

Introduction: Despite the previous inconsistent findings of structural and functional abnormalities of the thalamus in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), the disruption of the thalamic nuclei in the pathophysiology of this disorder has not yet been adequately studied. Therefore, we investigated the volumetric changes of thalamic subregions and their nuclei in drug-naïve, first-episode MDD patients. We also investigated the association between HAM-D scores, a clinical scale frequently used to evaluate the severity of depression and thalamic nuclei volumes in MDD patients.

Estimation of subjective quality of life in schizophrenic patients using speech features.

Introduction: Patients with schizophrenia experience the most prolonged hospital stay in Japan. Also, the high re-hospitalization rate affects their quality of life (QoL). Despite being an effective predictor of treatment, QoL has not been widely utilized due to time constraints and lack of interest.